Mandrel assembly for pattern disc preparation machines

ABSTRACT

An assembly comprising a mandrel having thereon spaced pattern discs and intervening split mandrel spacers each comprising two complementary parts in contact with the mandrel, these discs and spacers being clamped together facially. The assembly is used in a pattern disc preparation machine for breaking teeth of pattern discs of knitting machine pattern units. The complementary mandrel spacer parts are either separate and unconnected or connected but readily separable for disengagement from the mandrel. The sides of such parts may be recessed to receive pattern unit spacers of smaller diameter. The invention includes an upright assembling unit to facilitate assembly of disc and spacers on to a mandrel. It also includes a transfer unit for enabling the pattern discs and pattern unit spacers, on a mandrel from which the parts of the split mandrel spacers have previously been released and allowed to fall away, to be slid off the mandrel on to an aligned pattern unit spindle.

' [111 3,831,261 [451 Aug. 27, 1974 1 1 MANDREL ASSEMBLY FOR PATTERNDISC PREPARATION MACHINES [75] Inventor: Dennis Gell, Leicester, England{73] Assignee: Stibbe-Monk Developments Limited, Leicester, England [22]Filed: Jan. 22, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 325,746

521 US. c1 29/467, 29/426, 269/49,

269/50 51 Int. Cl. B23q 3/00 58 Field 6: Search 269/49, 52, 50, 43, 13,

269/14; 85/50 R, 50 AT, 51; 214/6 M, 8 R; 29/426, 427, 424, 425, 433,241, 467; 53/197 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,289,60712/1918 Batchelder 29/467 1,885,628 11/1932 Reinecker 269/50 2,613,57110/1952 Herman 85/51 2,795,444 6/1957 Menzell 85/50 R 2,851,917 9/1958Frew et a1 85/51 2,890,042 6/1959 Clemensen 269/49 3,312,460 4/1967Kaufman 269/43 Primary ExaminerRichard .1. Herbst AssistantExaminer-James R. Duzan Attorney, Agent, or FirmLarson, Taylor and HindsTRACT An assembly comprising a mandrel having thereon spaced patterndiscs and intervening split mandrel spacers each comprising twocomplementary parts in contact with the mandrel, these discs and spacersbeing clamped together facially. The assembly is used in a pattern discpreparation machine for breaking teeth of pattern discs of knittingmachine pattern units.

The complementary mandrel spacer parts are either separate andunconnected or connected but readily separable for disengagement fromthe mandrel. The sides of such parts may be recessed to receive patternunit spacers of smaller diameter.

The invention includes an upright assembling unit to facilitate assemblyof disc and spacers on to a mandrel. It also includes a transfer unitfor enabling the pattern discs and pattern unit spacers, on a mandrelfrom which the parts of the split mandrel spacers have previously beenreleased and allowed to fall away, to he slid off the mandrel on to analigned pattern unit spindle.

l6 Clairm, 10 Drawing Figures Zla PATENTEUAUBZ? I974 SHEET 1!)? 5PATENTEDAUBZYIW 3.831.261

SHEET 20$ 5 PATENIE AUE 2 71974 SHEET it Of 5 MANDREL ASSEMBLY FORPATTERN DISC PREPARATION MACHINES This invention relates to pattern discpreparation machines for breaking teeth off pattern discs for use oncircular knitting machines, and is concerned more particularly with amandrel assembly in such a machine for holding the discs and for loadingand unloading the same from these assemblies.

ln known disc preparation machines such a mandrel assembly usuallyconsists of a series of circular spacers between adjacent discs and alocking means for holding the spacers and discs in a fixed longitudinalrelationship. These spacers are wider than those used when the prepareddiscs are assembled in a pattern unit for use on the knitting machine.This is because the disc preparation machine requires sufficient spacebetween each disc to permit of a relative longitudinal breaking movementbetween the discs and the teeth breakers and also because it isdesirable to keep the height of a stack of discs in a pattern unit on acircular knitting machine to a minimum.

Accordingly, when taking prepared discs from a mandrel and putting theminto a pattern unit for a knitting machine, it is necessary to take-offmandrel spacers and put on pattern unit spacers. This is a timeconsuming manual operation which can result in incorrect arrangement ofthe prepared discs in the pattern unit.

The object of the present invention is to provide, for use in a patterndisc preparation machine, an improved mandrel assembly designed toeliminate the aforesaid time consuming operation and hence anypossibility of operator error in transferring prepared discs from amandrel to a pattern unit.

According to this invention the improved mandrel assembly comprises amandrel on which are loaded a series of pattern discs and spacers, saidassembly being characterised in that it is furnished, between each discand the immediately adjacent disc, with a mandrel spacer which is in atleast two separate or connected complementary parts each in contact withthe circumference of the mandrel.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the opposite sidefaces of the parts of each mandrel spacer may be arcuately recessed toreceive smaller diameter complete circular pattern unit spacers.

It will be appreciated that the last mentioned feature enables themandrel spacers to be removed and the prepared discs and pattern unitspacers to be passed directly onto a pattern unit.

The invention includes special tools which have been designed tofacilitate the mandrel assembly and the transfer of discs to patternunits.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and readilycarried into practical effect, a specific constructional example of saidinvention and variations thereof will now be described with reference tothe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a cross-section through the mandrel assembly, showing a splitmandrel spacer having two separate parts,

FIG. 2 is a detail axial section of a fragmentary portion of the saidassembly taken on the line II II of FIG. 4 is a plan view of a mandrelin an assembling unit,

FIG. 5 is a front view of the mandrel and assembling unit as seen in thedirection of arrow V in FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a mandrel in an unloading unit,

FIG. 7 is a front view as seen in the direction of the arrow VII in FIG.6,

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary front view of a mandrel and spacers in analternative arrangement,

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a further alternative mandrelspacer arrangement, and

FIG. 10 is a detail plan view of the same as seen in the direction ofthe arrow in FIG. 9.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 are shown two separate split mandrel spacer parts 1 and2. The opposite side faces of the complementary spacer parts arearcuately recessed at 1a and 2a to freely house smaller diameter patternunit spacers 3, one per complete mandrel spacer. Thus, there is only onepattern unit spacer 3 adjacent to each pattern disc 4 when assembled onthe pattern unit.

In order accurately to locate the pattern discs 4, the mandrel 5 has twolongitudinally extending keys 6 and 7 fitted into it. To enable them toreceive and clear these keys 6 and 7 the inner circumferential edges ofthe complementary mandrel spacer parts 1 and 2 have therein cut-outs lband 2b. It will therefore be appreciated that the mandrel spacers are sodesigned as to be completely interchangeable and reversible, thus makingit possible to fit them incorrectly.

In FIG. 3 is shown an example of a mandrel spacer having twosubstantially semi-circular parts 8 and 9 which are pivotally connectedtogether by a pin 10. The spacer parts 8 and 9 also have recesses 8a and9a formed therein for accommodation of the pattern unit spacers 3, andcut-outs 8b and 9b to receive and clear the keys 6 and 7. In both of thespacer constructions illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the spacers are heldin position by means of an axially extending locking handle such as thatdepicted at 11 in FIG. 6. As will be seen in this figure the lockinghandle has an inner screwthreaded portion 11a for screwing into a tappedhole formed axially in an end of the mandrel and a shouldered outerportion 11b which is furnished with a knurled knob 11c and is adaptedfor contact with a hollow washer part w bearing on the corresponding endof the assemblage of discs 4 and mandrel spacers. By screwing in thishandle the spacers l, 2 (or 8, 9) are clamped and held, and byslackening it the sideways pressure holding the spacers is removedthereby enabling them to be easily removed.

To prevent the spacers shown in FIG. 3 from falling out accidentally,during assembly, it would be possible to fit to one part 8 a leaf spring12 designed to latch into a notch 13 in the complementary part 9. But asthis would make removal of the mandrel spacers an individual operation,each one having to be unlatched, it is preferred to adopt theconstruction of FIGS. 1 and 2 so that the separate and unconnectedspacer parts 1 and 2 fall out when the sideways pressure thereon isrelieved. This, however, presents problems of assembly which have beensolved by the mechanism now to be described with reference to FIGS. 4and 5.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a completed mandrel assembly MA in position on avertically disposed assembling unit AU. This unit comprises a base 14having therein a hole 14a and a keyway 14b into which are respectivelyfitted a projection and a key 16 on the lower end of the mandrelassembly MA (viewed in an upright position). The assembly MA is alsoheld steady by spaced supporting arms 17a of an upstanding support 17.Fixed into the top of this support 17 is a shaft 18 on which arepivotally mounted a pair of opposed comb holders l9 and 20 each of whichis capable of being manually moved towards and away from the mandrelassembly MA. Attached to the comb holders 1) and 20, are combs 21 and 22the prongs 21a and 22a of which, in their operative positions, projectin between the pattern discs 4 and clamp the complementary spacer parts1 and 2 firmly in position. The clamping action is effected by a purelymanual operation during which the axially extending locking handle 11(similar to that described with reference to FIG. 6) is tightened tosecure all the spaced discs 4 and the intervening spacer parts 1 and 2in position.

The assembling unit AU enables the mandrel 5 first to be placedvertically in position and the necessary discs 4 and spacers to beassembled thereon one after another in horizontal planes until a fullcomplement of discs is assembled, whereafter the locking handle 11 isfitted and tightened to clamp the discs and spacers together axially andthe combs 21 and 22 are brought ra-' dially into clamping arrangementwith the complementary parts 1 and 2 of the split mandrel spacers.

The mandrel assembly MA is now ready to be placed on a disc preparationmachine of any known form which it is not necessary to describe herein.One such machine is known as the Stibbematic Discmaster which was firstshown in Paris in June 1971 at the International Exhibition of TextileMachinery, although this machine did not, of course, have a mandrel withsplit spacers.

The discs having been prepared by breaking off selected peripheral teethit is now necessary to remove these discs and the pattern unit spacersfrom the mandrel assembly and transfer them onto a pattern unit forfitting on to a knitting machine. For this purpose, a transfer unit suchas that designated TU in FIGS. 6 and 7 is employed.

The transfer unit TU consists of a base 23 upon one end of which ispivotally mounted a mandrel assembly support 24. This support isU-shaped comprising two spaced vertical arms 24a and 240. The arm 24ahas therein a hole 24b in which is located the projection 15 on themandrel assembly MA. The other arm 24c supports the body of the saidassembly. The key 16, which radially locates the mandrel assembly isheld in position by a latch 25 having therein a cut-out 25a. This latchis pivotally attached, by means of a shoulder screw 26, to the arm 24aof support 24.

The support 24 is itself pivoted on a shoulder screw 27 the head and theshoulder of which are respectively located in a longitudinal recess 23aand a slot 23b formed in the base 23. The said support is furtherlocated by another shoulder screw 28 whose head and shoulder arerespectively located in a recess 23c and a slot 23d also formed in thebase 23. The slot 231] and recess 230 are partly arcuate and partlystraight in the longitudinal direction of the base 23. This locating arrangement is accordingly such that the support 24 can be swung radiallyout of line on the transfer unit and can also be slid longitudinallywith respect to such unit for purposes hereinafter to be described.

At the opposite end of the base 23 is a fixed bracket 29 onto which isattached a pattern unit support 30. The pattern unit, for the sake ofsimplicity in this description, will be regarded as simply comprising aspindle 31 fitted with keys 32 and 33 for radially locating the patterndiscs 4. The spindle 31 is fastened onto a base 34 which locates in thesupport 30 with its driving shaft 35 in a hole 3011. The base 34 is heldagainst rotation by means of a key 36 which is attached to the support30 and engages in a keyway 34a in the said base.

A stud 37, fitted into a central hole 31a in the spindle 31, projectsaxially from the pattern unit PU and serves to locate the mandrelassembly MA by engagement in a hole 5a formed axially in the relevantend of the mandrel 5.

In operation, therefore, the mandrel assembly, with a set of preparedpattern discs thereon, is taken from the disc preparation machine andlocated in support 24 as previously described, but with the said supportin the out-of-Iine position shown in FIG. 6. In this position thelocking handle 11 is unscrewed and removed, thereby releasing the splitspacer parts I and 2 which drop into a tray 38. The support 24 is thenturned to a normal position in which the mandrel assembly MA is inco-axial alignment with the pattern unit PU. The support 24 is then slidlongitudinally so that stud 37 is located in a hole 5a in the mandrel 5as shown in FIG. 7. The mandrel 5 at this stage only has on it thepattern discs 4 and pattern unit spacers 3, these being slid offdirectly onto the pattern unit PU.

With this improved arrangement, a minimum amount of time is spent inremoving the mandrel spacers and in fitting the pattern unit with itsdiscs and spacers. Moreover, there is no possibility of any discs beingincorrectly assembled. The pattern unit with its assembled discs andspacers is simply removed from the transfer unit TU, after its disclocking screw, which replaces the stud 37, has been fitted and placed onthe knitting machine.

Pattern units on some types of knitting machines are so designed thatthe pattern unit spacers are the same diameter as the root diameter ofthe peripheral teeth on the pattern discs. In such a case it is not, ofcourse, possible to accommodate a pattern unit spacer within a recess ina two-part. mandrel assembly spacer.

The alternative arrangement illustrated in FIG. 8 is used on the mandrelassembly in a case where each pattern unit spacer 39 is of the samediameter as the mandrel spacer. In FIG. 8, each mandrel assembly spaceris represented by two complementary spacer parts 40 and 41. As will beseen in this figure, moreover, pattern unit spacer 39 and a mandrelspacer 40, 41 are placed side by side on the mandrel 5 between each pairof pattern discs 4.

The alternative mandrel spacer construction illustrated in FIGS. 9 and10 consists of two complementary semi-circular spacer parts 42 and 43which have respectively formed in their outer circumferential portionstwo opposed recesses 42a and 43a for accommodation of a leaf spring 44.The opposite ends of this spring are secured to the bottoms of therecesses 42a and 43a by means of rivets 45 and 46 respectively. Theinner arcuate face of the semi-circular spacer part 42 is formed with apair of circumferentially spaced and inwardly directed radialprojections 42b and 42c. In a similar way, the spacer part 43 is formedwith a pair of radial projections 43b and 43c. As will be seen from FIG.9, the only points of contact of the complementary spacer parts 42 and43 with the mandrel 5 are constituted by the inner free ends of the saidfour radial projections. The latter are made thinner than the mainbodies of the spacer parts in order to provide space for accommodationof pattern unit spacers 3 as previously described. The leaf spring 44 isshown in tension but when normally in an untensioned condition it holdsthe spacer parts 42 and 43 connected thereby open, i.e., splayed apart,so that they can freely pass respectively opposite sides of the mandrel5.

I claim:

1. A mandrel assembly for fitting into a pattern disc preparationmachine designed to break predetermined teeth off peripherally toothedpattern discs of knitting machine pattern units, said assembly being ofa form comprising a mandrel, spaced peripherally toothed and centrallyapertured pattern discs mounted on said mandrel, intervening mandrelspacers loaded onto the mandrel between said pattern discs, and lockingmeans clamping the pattern discs and the spacers together axially andthereby holding them in a fixed relationship, said mandrel being formedwith longitudinally extending key means which the said toothed patterndiscs engage for securing the discs against rotation on the mandrel,each of said spacers being split into two complementary arcurate partsso that each part is movable radially onto and off of the mandrel, eachin contact with the circumference of the mandrel but having in theirinner circumferential edges cut-out means for receiving and clearing thekey means.

2. A mandrel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the twocomplementary parts of each mandrel spacer are separate and unconnectedso that when the axially exerted clamping pressure thereon is relievedthese parts are free to fall out of the assembly.

3. A mandrel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the twocomplementary spacer parts are connected but readily separable fordisengagement from the mandrel.

4. A mandrel assembly according to claim 1, wherein each split mandrelspacer comprises two substantially semi-circular parts which arepivotally connected together by a pin.

5. A mandrel assembly according to claim 1, wherein each split mandrelspacer comprises two substantially semi-circular parts which areconnected by a leaf spring which, when in an untensioned condition,holds the said parts open, i.e., splayed apart.

6. A mandrel assembly according to claim 5, wherein the semi-circularparts of each mandrel spacer have respectively formed in their outercircumferential portions opposed recesses for accommodation of the leafspring the opposite ends of which are secured to the bottoms of saidrecesses.

7. A mandrel assembly according to claim 1, wherein inner arcuate facesof the mandrel spacer parts are formed with inwardly directed radialprojections arranged to contact the mandrel at circumferentially spacedpoints only, these projections being made thinner than the main bodiesof the spacer parts to provide space for accommodation of whole patternunit spacers of smaller diameter than the mandrel spacers.

8. A mandrel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the spaced patterndiscs and the intervening mandrel spacers loaded on to the mandrel areclamped together facially by an axially extending handle having an innerscrewthreaded portion for screwing into a tapped hole formed axially inan end of the mandrel and a shouldered outer portion which is furnishedwith a knob and is adapted for contact with a washer part bearing on thecorresponding end of the assemblage of pattern discs and spacers.

9. A mandrel assembly according to claim 1, which includes pattern unitspacers of the same diameter as the mandrel spacers, a pattern unitspacer and a mandrel spacer being disposed side by side on the mandrelbetween each pair of pattern discs.

10. A mandrel assembly according to claim 1,

wherein the split mandrel spacers are thick in compari-- son with therelative thinness of the toothed pattern discs, and the side radialfaces of the complementary parts of said spacers are facially recessedarcuately, providing complete circular recesses wherein are locatedrelatively thin circular pattern unit spacers of smaller diameter thansaid mandrel spacers, there being one pattern unit spacer to eachtoothed pattern disc.

11. A mandrel assembly according to claim 10, wherein both of theopposite side faces of the split parts of each mandrel spacer arearcuately recessed to provide a circular pattern unitspacer-accomodating recess at each side of each mandrel spacer.

12. A method of handling pattern discs for knitting machine patternunits, comprising the steps of: assembling the discs onto a mandrel byfirst mounting and holding a circular mandrel with its axis extendingvertically in an assembling unit, assembling onto the vertically mountedmandrel pattern discs and spacers, one after the other, the spacersbeing of the type which are split so as to comprise two complementaryarcuate parts, each of which is movable in a radial direction onto andoff of the mandrel, clamping the discs and spacers together facially inan axial direction and also clamping radially into contact with themandrel the complementary parts of the split mandrel spacers.

13. The method of claim 12, further including the steps of: removing thepattern discs and the pattern unit spacers from the mandrel assembly andtransferring the same to a pattern unit by placing he said assembly intoa pivoted support of a transfer unit equipped also with a support bywhich is carried a keyed pattern unit spindle; turning the said mandrelassembly support out of line with the pattern unit spindle; thereuponrelieving the axially exerted clamping pressure on the faces of thediscs and spacers so that the complementary parts of the split mandrelspacers are released from the mandrel; next turning the mandrel assemblysupport into alignment with the pattern unit spindle; shifting saidmandrel assembly support longitudinally to locate together and mandreland the said spindle, and axially sliding the pattern discs andassociated pattern unit spacers off the mandrel onto the pattern unitspindle.

14. For carrying out the method claimed in claim 12, a mandrel assemblycombined with a vertically disposed assembling unit comprising a basewith which the lower end of the mandrel is adapted to key; an upstandingsupport on the base having spaced arms for holding the mandrel steady; avertical shaft fixed into said support; a pair of opposed comb holderswhich are pivotally mounted on this shaft and are movable towards andaway from the mandrel having thereon an assemblage of pattern discs andarcuately split complementary spacers; and combs which are attached tothe comb holders and have prong means for projecting, in their operativepositions, between the pattern discs and for clamping into contact withthe mandrel complementary parts of the intervening split mandrelspacers.

15. For carrying out the method claimed in claim 13, a mandrel assemblyhaving thereon an assemblage of pattern discs and arcuately splitcomplementary spacers and a transfer unit means for facilitating removalof pattern discs and associated whole pattern unit spacers from saidassembly and for transferring them onto a pattern unit for fitting ontoa knitting machine, said transfer unit comprising a base; a mandrelassembly support pivotally mounted upon one end of said base and inwhich the mandrel assembly is located, cradled and latched in position;at the opposite end of the said base a fixed bracket; a pattern unitsupport attached to said bracket; a keyed spindle of a pattern unit forradially locating pattern discs, the inner end of said spindle beinglocated in said pattern unit support; screws which are screwed into themandrel assembly support and extend through slots in the base so as toenable the said mandrel assembly support both to be shiftedlongitudinally on the base and to be swung radially into and out of linewith the longitudinal axis of the pattern unit spindle, the screws beingappropriately turned to secure the mandrel assembly support in positionafter it has been turned and moved to correctly locate it relatively tothe pattern unit spindle.

16. The invention of claim 15, wherein the mandrel assembly support ispivoted on a shoulder screw the head and shoulder of which arerespectively located in a straight longitudinal recess and a slot formedin the base, and is further located by another shoulder screw the headand shoulder of which are respectively located in a partly arcuaterecess and slot also formed in the base but being partly straight in thelongitudinal direction whereby the mandrel assembly in its support canbe swung radially into and out of line on the transfer unit and can alsohe slid longitudinally with respect to the pattern unit spindle.

1. A mandrel assembly for fitting into a pattern disc preparationmachine designed to break predetermined teeth off peripherally toothedpattern discs of knitting machine pattern units, said assembly being ofa form comprising a mandrel, spaced peripherally toothed and centrallyapertured pattern discs mounted on said mandrel, intervening mandrelspacers loaded onto the mandrel between said pattern discs, and lockingmeans clamping the pattern discs and the spacers together axially andthereby holding them in a fixed relationship, said mandrel being formedwith longitudinally extending key means which the said toothed patterndiscs engage for securing the discs against rotation on the mandrel,each of said spacers being split into two complementary arcurate partsso that each part is movable radially onto and off of the mandrel, eachin contact with the circumference of the mandrel but having in theirinner circumferential edges cut-out means for receiving and clearing thekey means.
 2. A mandrel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the twocomplementary parts of each mandrel spacer are separate and unconnectedso that when the axially exerted clamping pressure thereon is relievedthese parts are free to fall out of the assembly.
 3. A mandrel assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein the two complementary spacer parts areconnected but readily separable for disengagement from the mandrel.
 4. Amandrel assembly according to claim 1, wherein each split mandrel spacercomprises two substantially semi-circular parts which are pivotallyconnected together by a pin.
 5. A mandrel assembly according to claim 1,wherein each split mandrel spacer comprises two substantiallysemi-circular parts which are connected by a leaf spring which, when inan untensioned condition, holds the said parts open, i.e., splayedapart.
 6. A mandrel assembly according to claim 5, wherein thesemi-circular parts of each mandrel spacer have respectively formed intheir outer circumferential portions opposed recesses for accommodationof the leaf spring the opposite ends of which are secured to the bottomsof said recesses.
 7. A mandrel assembly according to claim 1, whereininner arcuate faces of the mandrel spacer parts are formed with inwardlydirected radial projections arranged to contact the mandrel atcircumferentially spaced points only, these projections being madethinner than the main bodies of the spacer parts to provide space foraccommodation of whole pattern unit spacers of smaller diameter than themandrel spacers.
 8. A mandrel assembly according to claim 1, wherein thespaced pattern discs and the intervening mandrel spacers loaded on tothe mandrel are clamped together facially by an axially extending handlehaving an inner screwthreaded portion for screwing into a tapped holeformed axially in an end of the mandrel and a shouldered outer portionwhich is furnished with a knob and is adapted for contact with a washerpart bearing on the corresponding end of the assemblage of pattern discsand spacers.
 9. A mandrel assembly according to claim 1, which includespattern unit spacers of the same diameter as the mandrel spacers, apattern unit spacer and a mandrel spacer being disposed side by side onthe mandrel between each pair of pattern discs.
 10. A mandrel assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein the split mandrel spacers are thick incomparison with the relative thinness of the toothed pattern discs, andthe side radial faces of the complementary parts of said spacers arefacially recessed arcuately, providing complete circular recesseswherein are located relatively thin circular pattern unit spacers ofsmaller diameter than said mandrel spacers, there being one pattern unitspacer to each toothed pattern disc.
 11. A mandrel assembly according toclaim 10, wherein both of the opposite side faces of the split parts ofeach mandreL spacer are arcuately recessed to provide a circular patternunit spacer-accomodating recess at each side of each mandrel spacer. 12.A method of handling pattern discs for knitting machine pattern units,comprising the steps of: assembling the discs onto a mandrel by firstmounting and holding a circular mandrel with its axis extendingvertically in an assembling unit, assembling onto the vertically mountedmandrel pattern discs and spacers, one after the other, the spacersbeing of the type which are split so as to comprise two complementaryarcuate parts, each of which is movable in a radial direction onto andoff of the mandrel, clamping the discs and spacers together facially inan axial direction and also clamping radially into contact with themandrel the complementary parts of the split mandrel spacers.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, further including the steps of: removing the patterndiscs and the pattern unit spacers from the mandrel assembly andtransferring the same to a pattern unit by placing he said assembly intoa pivoted support of a transfer unit equipped also with a support bywhich is carried a keyed pattern unit spindle; turning the said mandrelassembly support out of line with the pattern unit spindle; thereuponrelieving the axially exerted clamping pressure on the faces of thediscs and spacers so that the complementary parts of the split mandrelspacers are released from the mandrel; next turning the mandrel assemblysupport into alignment with the pattern unit spindle; shifting saidmandrel assembly support longitudinally to locate together and mandreland the said spindle, and axially sliding the pattern discs andassociated pattern unit spacers off the mandrel onto the pattern unitspindle.
 14. For carrying out the method claimed in claim 12, a mandrelassembly combined with a vertically disposed assembling unit comprisinga base with which the lower end of the mandrel is adapted to key; anupstanding support on the base having spaced arms for holding themandrel steady; a vertical shaft fixed into said support; a pair ofopposed comb holders which are pivotally mounted on this shaft and aremovable towards and away from the mandrel having thereon an assemblageof pattern discs and arcuately split complementary spacers; and combswhich are attached to the comb holders and have prong means forprojecting, in their operative positions, between the pattern discs andfor clamping into contact with the mandrel complementary parts of theintervening split mandrel spacers.
 15. For carrying out the methodclaimed in claim 13, a mandrel assembly having thereon an assemblage ofpattern discs and arcuately split complementary spacers and a transferunit means for facilitating removal of pattern discs and associatedwhole pattern unit spacers from said assembly and for transferring themonto a pattern unit for fitting onto a knitting machine, said transferunit comprising a base; a mandrel assembly support pivotally mountedupon one end of said base and in which the mandrel assembly is located,cradled and latched in position; at the opposite end of the said base afixed bracket; a pattern unit support attached to said bracket; a keyedspindle of a pattern unit for radially locating pattern discs, the innerend of said spindle being located in said pattern unit support; screwswhich are screwed into the mandrel assembly support and extend throughslots in the base so as to enable the said mandrel assembly support bothto be shifted longitudinally on the base and to be swung radially intoand out of line with the longitudinal axis of the pattern unit spindle,the screws being appropriately turned to secure the mandrel assemblysupport in position after it has been turned and moved to correctlylocate it relatively to the pattern unit spindle.
 16. The invention ofclaim 15, wherein the mandrel assembly support is pivoted on a shoulderscrew the head and shoulder of which are respectively located in astraight longitudinal recess and a slot formed in the base, and isfurther located by another shoulder screw the head and shoulder of whichare respectively located in a partly arcuate recess and slot also formedin the base but being partly straight in the longitudinal directionwhereby the mandrel assembly in its support can be swung radially intoand out of line on the transfer unit and can also be slid longitudinallywith respect to the pattern unit spindle.